Control system for heat-transfer apparatus



Nov- 8, H. H- BUCKMAN CONTROL SYSTEM- rioa HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed bet. s, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 A 7705M: KS.

Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,672 H. H. BUCKMAN CONTROL svsma FOR HEAT TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VE Y5.

Patented Nov, 8, i927,

U hi E i? E c T GFFECE.

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS.

Application filed December 3, 1926. Serial No. 152,507.

This invention relates to a control system for heat transfer apparatus of the kinds which require power to be intermittently supplied thereto.

Heret-ofore heating plants or furnaces which depend for their operation upon a source of power or driving force, such, for example. as a motor, and refrigerating apparatus which is also dependent upon some source of power, have been actuated by separate motors or sources of power with the result that there was a duplication of motors or other sources of power, which added to the expense of the first cost of these installations and also to the upkeep or service cost.

The objects of this invention are to provide a control system for heat transfer apparatus by means of which a single source of power may be employed to actuate a plurality of heat transfer devices or apparatus; also 'to provide a system of this kind in which the heat transfer apparatus or de-= vices can be controlled automatically through the same source of power; also to provide a system of this kind by means of which a heating apparatus and a refrigerating or cooling apparatus may be automatically actuated from the same source of power; also to provide a system of this kind in which air supplied to the heating device may be conditioned by means of the cooling or refrigerating device to produce higher efficiency in the heating device; also to improve systems of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically a control system embodying my invention by means of which a plyality of heat transfer devices or apparatus maybe automatically actuated by means of a single source 1, of power.

Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically a control system of the kind shown in Fig. 1, but having added thereto provisions by means of which the air supplied to the heating apparatus may be conditioned by means of the cooling or refrigerating apparatus for improving the eiiiciency of the heating apparatus.

it will be understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of two specific embodiments of my invention and that my invention is not limited to the systenis or devices shown inv the drawings.

' In both of the figures A represents a heating apparatus or furnace to which a blast of air is supplied by means of a blower or fan B having an air inlet 6, and b represents a duct or passage for gaseous or liquid fuel also leading to the blower B. It is not lntended, however, to limit this invention to use in connection. with an oil or gas burning furnace, since any other type of heat transfer apparatus or device may be used in connection, with my system, the operation of which is dependent in some way upon a source of power.

C, in Figs. 1 and 2, represents diagrammatically a compressor of a cooling or refrigerating apparatus which is connected by means of a pair of tubes or ducts o with a refrigerator or cooler D, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of a. refrigerator and compressor therefor, since any other type of heat transfer apparatus or device dependent in some way for its operation upon a source of power may be employed in place of the parts shown.

E represents a suitable source of power which in the particular embodiments of the invention illustrated may be in the form of an electric motor, although it will be understood that any other power device may be used in place of an electric motor. The power device or motor E shown has a shaft 6 extending toward opposite sides. of the motor. The motor or power device is of sufficient size to operate both of the heat transfer apparatus at the same time and in the particular construction shown the two ends of the motor or power device are provided with clutches or couplings of any suitable construction for connecting the motor with either or both of the heat transfer apparatus.

The control of the operation of the heat transfer device A through the power actuated member or blower B may be efiected automatically through any kind of control device, such, for example, as a thermostat, pressure gage, or other means F, Figs. it and 2, and through any suitable connections between the control device F and the parts to be controlled thereby. In the particular construction shown, electric connections are illustrated, and the control device is adapted to make a contact for completing an electric circuit when the power driven device B is to be actuated, and to break the contact when ion this actuation is to be interrupted. This contact is adapted to close a circuit through a battery 5 and the coil 6 of a relay switch G of any suitable kind, that shown having a movable switch member 7 adapted to form a connection between the conductors 8 and 9 when the coil 6 is energized, the conductor 8 being connected to one of the conductors of a pair of electric power mains H, or other suitable source of electric power. The conductor 9 is connected by conductors 10 and 11 to one terminal of the motor, the other terminal of the motor E being connected by conductors 12 and 13 to the other line of the power mains or source of electric power H, so that the closing of the relay switch G causes current to be supplied to the motor E for operating the same.

The same relay switch G is preferably also employed for coupling the motor E with the driven member B of the heat transfer apparatus A, this being accomplished in the particular construction shown by means of an electrically actuated coupling or clutch I consisting of two coupling members 15 and 16, one of which is mounted on the motor shaft 6 and the other of which is mounted on the shaft of the driven mem ber B, and one of which is movable relatively to the other. In the construction shown the coupling member 16 is so movable and is actuated through a lever 17 by means of a magnet or solenoid 18 connected through the relay switch G by means of conductors 19 and 20 to one of the power mains H or other source of electric power, a spring 21 normally holding the coupling member 16 in its uncoupled position, out of contact with the coupling member 15. Con sequently when the relay switch G is closed, current passing through the conductor 8, switch member 7, conductors 9 and 19, through the magnet or solenoid 18 and through conductor 20, causes the coupling I to be actuated and'permit power to be transmitted from the motor E to the driven member B. It will be understood that the coupling I and the parts for actuating the same are merely illustrated diagrammatically and may beof different construction, if desired. It will be obvious that when the control device F breaks the circuit through the relay switch G, the switch member 7 moves into a position in which the circuit through conductors 8 and 9 is open, thus interrupting the supply of current to the motor E and causing the magnet or solenoid 18 to be deenergized so that the spring 21 causes the movable coupling member to disconnect the motor E from the driven member 13..

The automatic control of the other heat transfer apparatus or refrigerator may be effected in substantially the same manner as that controlling the movable part B of also energizes a magnet or .solenoid 28 for controlling an electrically operated clutch M in a. manner similar to that described in connection with the clutch I, the solenoid.

or magnet coil 28 being connected by a conductor 29, the relay switch L and conductor 27 to one side of the power line H, and by conductors 30 and 13 to the other side of the power line. The clutch M serves to connect the source of power or motor E to the compressor C.

By means of the system described thus far, which is common to both Figs. 1 and 2,.

both of the control devices F and K function to start and stop the motor E and also couple the motor with either of the heat transfer apparatus described, or both of these apparatus may be coupled with the motor simultaneously. The system makes it possible to use a single motor for actuating both of the heat transfer apparatus which results in an economy not only in the first cost of installation but also in maintenance and upkeep cost. The arrangement described also makes it possible for one sales organization to render the service necessary for the satisfactory operation of both of the heat transfer apparatus at substantially the same cost that would be necessary for supplying such service to only one of these devices. Since it is well known that larger electric motors and other power devices are more efficient than smaller ones, an actual saving in electric power is also effected by means of the system described.-

It has been demonstrated that the presence of water vapor in air used in the combustion of fuel greatly decreases the efficiency of the heating device or apparatus in which the combustion takes place. By means of a comparatively inexpensive addition to my system as herein described, moisture can be extracted from the air supplied to the heating apparatus so as to increase the efficiency aeeaeae compressor C, through pipes or ducts 37 and 38. The air entering the inlet is circulated in any desired manner so as to contact with the refrigerating coil 36 on which most of the vapor contained in the air is condensed. The cold air passes through a duct 40 out of the preeooler 0 into a heating chamber or prcheater P, which may be of any suitable or desired construction, that shown being in the form of a heat interchanger including a plurality of tubes or ducts all through'which the cold air passes from the pipe 40, these ducts passing through a smoke duct d2 of the furnace A so that the hot exhaust gases from the furnace surround these duets all and transmit their heat through these ducts to the cold air passing through the interior of the ducts.

In this way the air isheated and passed through a duct 43 to the blower or driven member B of the furnace A. Other means for precooling and preheating the air may, of course, be prdvided, if desired.

The temperature within theflprecooler O is preferably controlled by means of a thermostat or other control device- Q, which may be similar to the control device hi used in the refrigerator D and which also controls a circuit 45 in the same manner, including a relay switch R which closes a circuit through the motor E. This circuit preferably also includes the relay switch G so that the precooler will not be cooled when the furnace is not in operation. For this purpose, in the construction illustrated, a conductor 46 connects one terminal of the relay switch R with the conductor 19 leading from the relay switch G. The other terminal of the relay switch It is connected by conductors a? and 48 with the motor, and the other motor terminal is connected with one of the power lines H by conductor ill. The same switch also controls the flow of current through a magnet 50 to control the clutch M, current being conducted to the magnet or solenoid 50 from the relay switch through conductors l7 and 51, and back to the power lines H through the conductor 49.

In order to prevent the operation of the compressor C by the thermostat or control device Q, from influencing the temperature in the refrigerator D, a pair of valves is employed which are also actuated automatically to control the flow of refrigerant from the compressor, C to either the precooler U orthe refrigerator In the construction shown a valve S is shown in the pipe 38 leading to the precooler O and this valve is assumed to be normally closed but may be opened by an electromagnet or solenoid 54:. which is connected with a circuit when the relay switch it is closed through conductors 55 and 56 connecting respectively with con-2 ductors 48 and 49 already described. The flow of refrigerant from the compressor to the refrigerator D is controlled by means a cooler 0 becomes quite cold, the further supply of refrigerant thereto is interrupted by the control device Q1. Consequently ice which has been formed on the coil 36 in the precooler due to the extraction of moisture from the air which is cooled there-in, can be utilized for thecooling of additional air for a considerable period of time without the use of additional refrigerant. \Vhen the temperature in the precooler O rises to a predetermined point, indicating that the ice has been melted from the coil 36, the circulation of refrigerant in the coil will be resumed by the control device Q. I

In both of the figures only single pole relay switches are shown for the purpose of simplifying the drawings and descriptions but it will be understood that double pole switches may be used if preferred.

ll. claim as my invention 1. In a control system the combination of a heating apparatus and arefrigerating apparatus, each apparatus including a part to be actuated by power, a motor, a control device for each apparatus, and means for actuating each control device for coupling the part of its apparatus to be actuated by power with said motor, for causing the actuation of its apparatus, and for uncoupling said part of said apparatus from said motor for interrupting said actuation.

2. In a control system the combination of a heating apparatus and a refrigerating apparatus, each apparatus including a part to be actuated by power, an electric motor, a source of electric power for driving said motor, a control device for each apparatus, and means actuated by each control apparatus for connecting said motor with said source of electric power and for causing the actuation of its apparatus from said motor, and for interrupting said actuation and disconnecting said motor from said source of power.

3. ln a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a heating apparatus and a refrigerating apparatus, each including a part to be driven, a motor, a control device for each apparatus, means actuated by each control device for connecting the part of-its apparatus to be driven with said motor, and'for disconnecting said part with said motor, and controlling means for said motor actuated in common by both of said control devices.

4. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a heating apparatus and a refrigerating apparatus, each of said apparatus including a part to be driven, a motor, a thermostatic control device for connecting and disconnecting said motor with said parts of said heating apparatus to be driven, andanother thermostatic control device for connecting and disconnecting said motor with said parts to be driven of said refrigerating apparatus.

5. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a heating apparatus including a part to be driven, a refrigerating apparatus including a part to be driven, an electric motor, a source of power for said motor, a thermostatic control device for connecting and disconnecting said motor with the parts to be driven of said heating apparatus and for simultaneously connecting and disconnecting said motor with said source of power, and another thermostatic control device operating independently of said first mentioned control device to connect and disconnect said motor with said part to be driven of said refrigerating apparatus and to connect and disconnect said motor with said source of power.

6. In acontrol system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a heating apparatus including a blower, a refrigerating apparatus lncluding a compressor, a motor, a

control device for said heating apparatus, a coupling actuated by said control device to connect and disconnect said blower with said motor, a control device for said refrigerating apparatus, a coupling actuated by the control device of said refrigerating apparatus for connecting and disconnecting said compressor with said motor, and controlling means for said motor actuated in common by both of said control devices.

7. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination-of a heating apparatus including a blower, a refrigerating apparatus including a compressor, an electric motor, a source of power for said mot-or, a control device for said heating apparatus and a control device for said refrigerating apparatus, each of said control devices being adapted to complete an electric circuit when its apparatus is to be actuated and to break the circuit when the actuation is to be discontinued, a relay switch in the circuit of each of said control devices, a coupling controlled by each relay switch and adapted to connect the motor with the apparatus with which said relay switch cooperates, and a circuit including said motor and said source of power which can be closed by each relay switch when the circuit of its control device is closed.

8. In "a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace including a blower and a refrigerating apparatus including a compressor, a motor, a cooler for air entering said furnace, a control device influenced by conditions in said cooler for coupling and uncoupling said compressor with said motor to introduce refrigerant to said cooler to cool the air for extracting moisture therefrom, and a control device for coupling and uncoupling said blower and said motor for conducting the air from saidcooler to said furnace.

9. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace including a blower and a refrigerating apparatus including a. compressor, a motor adapted to be coupled to said blower and said compressor, a cooler having a passage for air passing to said furnace and a passage for refrigerant from said compressor, a control device in said cooler for causing the actuation of said compressor by said motor when the temperature in said cooler rises to a predetermined point, and means for driving said blower from said motor to draw air from said cooler when it is desired to operate said furnace.

10. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace including a blower and a refrigerating apparatus including a compressor, a motor adapted to be coupled to said blower and said compressor, a cooler having a passage for air passing to said furnace and a passage for refrigerant from said compressor, a control device in said cooler for causing the actuation of said compressor by said motor when the temperature in said cooler rises to a predetermined point, a heat interchanger through which the air passes from said cool,- er and in which'said air is heated by waste products of combustion, and means for driving said blower from said motor to draw air to said furnace from said cooler and said heater. p '11. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace including a blower and a refrigerating ap: paratus including a compressor, a motor, a control device adapted to couple said motor with said blower for operating said furnace, a cooler for air entering said furnace, a vcontrol device in said cooler for causing the ac tuation of said compressor by said motor when the" temperature in said cooler rises to a predetermined point, and connections between said control devices to prevent the actuation of said compressor when said motor and blower are uncoupled.

12. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace in cluding a blower, a refrigerating apparatus including a compressor, a motor, a control device for coupling and: uncoupling said air for l wn blower and motor for operating said furnace, a refrigerator, a control device in said refrigerator for coupling and uncoupling said motor with said compressor to supply refrigerant to said vice influenced by changes in temperature in said cooler for coupling and uncoupling said compressor with said motor to introduce refrigerant into said cooler to cool the air for I extracting moisture therefrom, and means for conducting the air with the moisture removed therefrom to said blower.

13. In a control system for heat transfer appa atus, the combination of a furnace including a blower, a refrigerating apparatus including a compressor, a motor, a control device for coupling and uncoupling said blower and motor for operating said furnace, a refrigerator, a control device in said refrigerator for coupling and uncoupling said motor with said compressor to supply refrigerant to said refrigerator, a cooler for air entering said furnace, and a control device influenced by changes in temperature in said cooler for coupling and uncoupling said compressor with said motor to introduce refrigerant into said cooler to cool the extracting moisture therefrom, means for conducting the air with the moisture removed therefrom to said blower, and means for preventing refrigerant from said compressor from being transmitted to said refrigerator and to said cooler when the control devices of said refrigerator and cooler are in posit-ion to uncouple said motor from said compressor.

14. In a control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace including a blower and a refrigerating apparatus including means for circulating refrigerant, a power device, a control device refrigerator, a cooler for 'air entering said furnace, and a control defor coupling said power device to said blower when said furnace is to be operated, a cooler through. which air passes to said furnace and which is cooled by refrigerant from said refrigerating apparatus, and a refrigerator which is cooled by refrigerant from said refrigerating apparatus, a valve for connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said cooler, another valve for connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said refrigerator, a control device in said cooler for actuating said valve connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said cooler, and a control device in said refrigerator for actuating said Valve connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said refrigerator.

15. In a. control system for heat transfer apparatus, the combination of a furnace including a blower and a refrigerating apparatus including means for circulating refrigerant, a power device, a control device for coupling said power device to said blower when said furnace is to be operated, a cooler through which air passes to said furnace and which is cooled by refrigerant from said refrigerating apparatus, and a refrigerator which is cooled by refrigerant from said refrigerating apparatus, a valve for connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said cooler, another valve for-connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said refrigerator, a control device in said cooler for actuating said valve connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said cooler, a control device in said refrigerator for actuating said valve connecting said refrigerating apparatus with said refrigerator, and means for preventing said controlling device in said cooler from actuating said valve when said motor is disconnected from said blower.

HENRY H. BUCKMAN. 

